Dream Maker
2:05 PM
After psychologicaly recovering from the third degree burns due to the burning of a relational bridge this week, I can say one thing…God is awesome!
I closed one chapter on my life, or maybe it was closed for me. It’s all in perspective, but either way…it’s done…and I am the better for it. Literally as that door permanently closed, opportunity came knocking…in the form of a few side jobs and one heck of a garage sell via my wife…(Kudos to her…and my kids for watching the youngest.)
Things are moving forward…there is a goal, you know? I will fight, scratch, claw, run, walk…whatever it takes…I will achieve my dream…because…I am a child of the Dream Maker.
Discerning Character
3:29 PM
I blew it. I totally blew it…
A friend that I had for over 2 years now, turned a new shade on me yesterday and I never saw it coming. What makes it worse is that other people saw it and I didn’t. I was warned but just couldn’t see it. My discernment was completely off target and I totally was the fool for it.
What happen is not important…leaders don’t tell tales. Also, to be honest, I am not angry with my friend. I am angry with myself for not discerning his personality better. I was just too close to see the obvious.
I wish I had Paul’s eyes…(after the Damascus road experience of course)
Acts 16 Vs 16-18
“Once when we were going to the place of prayer, we were met by a slave girl who had a spirit by which she predicted the future. She earned a great deal of money for her owners by fortune telling. This girl followed Paul and the rest of us, shouting, “These men are servants of the Most High God, who are telling you the way to be saved.” She kept this up for many days. Finally Paul became so troubled that he turned around and said to the spirit, “In the name of Jesus Christ I command you to come out of her!” At that moment the spirit left her.”
Now…no one is calling my friend spirit possessed. Don’t read into things that I am neither implying nor saying. What I do want to point out is…
Not everything and everyone that appears to be for you...is actually for you.
This woman was shouting to the rooftops the truth. She was saying all the right things. She was doing all the right things. Nevertheless, she wasn’t right. Paul could see it. His discernment was right on.
I love my friend. I think he has some awesome God given potential…but I think he is on a slippery slope. The problem with burning relational bridges is that eventually you become an island. I pray against that this morning for him. I pray for healing between us. I pray for greater discernment to allow me to zoom out of a situation and the focus to see it with clarity.
Lord give me better discernment...
Painting today...
11:19 AM
I am painting the youth sound booth today...and I job searched most of the morning...Needless to say, I won't be getting around to laying some text down. That just means Friday's post will have to be extra good.
See everyone tomorrow...
A Techno/Hope Post?
9:19 AM
Found a website today surfing while Collide Magazine's blog.
Enter Camron Ware.
Camron is doing some incredible things with projectors. I stand in awe! Be sure and check out his blog here. (This might be my next big project here in our youth department.)
Webster’s Dictionary defines “hope” as, “to cherish a desire with anticipation, or to expect with confidence.” This word has come to be used in everyday life. We use it for many different reasons all falling under this definition. For the Christian, though, this word is a life giving word. Why? Because the desire of our hearts, what we fervently cherish, is far greater than anything on this earth.
What is your hope? Can you answer that today? Are your struggles in vain?
The world might hide in darkness but your hope is unable to be hidden. Your hope is the light of revelation. All that are near it are exposed and the truth is revealed. This is why we must cling to our hope. So that the lost will find their way. Our hope shall be revealed upon this earth in its due time and we to, like the definition, are waiting in patience and love for that blessed day. Jesus is returning! Tell all who will listen and as far as you can shout the King returns!
Like this small word that seems so insignificant, so did Jesus enter into this world. He seemed so small, so helpless. A small infant that would grow into a man. Even as a man he humbled himself as a servant to men and loved them despite their evil hearts. If he would have just died, there would have been nothing to hope for. He would have been just another prophet. However, in His resurrection we have seen His glory manifested and his works exalted! Salvation has come and the King will return. What wonderful promises we have in Christ.
While we were yet sinners, Christ died for us. While we mocked him, defiled him, and ridiculed him, He died for us. Even though we stagger in our belief and struggle in faith, he declares His purpose in us. Our hope is in Jesus, not in the miracle. Our hope is in Christ, not in any preacher. Our hope is in our King, and not here on earth. Our hope is in something far greater than riches here, far greater than health here, and far greater than any life here. Our hope is that we will be where He is and where he has personally prepared a place for us to be. Miraculously transformed, blameless and incorruptible, and righteous and sanctified will be the fruits of his work in us. We will truly live eternally, fulfilling his will that we be rich in His glory.
Lord...Help me.
2:08 PM
On my fourth week now…still looking for the right job…
Sure I have had offers but nothing that would allow my bills to get paid. Today isn’t my best day. I feel the “fork” today. You know…the fork in the road. I feel as if I am approaching a huge decision. I can do one of two things:
(A) Take two jobs and work an enormous amount of hours. (Which means my ministry dreams are over.)
(B) Keep looking for a job that will pay the bills and hope that it will happen before I loose everything.
So far, I’ve picked option B. However, what scares me is how long can I do this before it’s too late and I loose everything no matter what kind of job I find.
You know what really bothers me?
What really bothers me is that if I am going to loose everything, I would rather it be because God has called me to a church or another country…not like this…
I am reminded of a quote I once came across…I don’t remember who said it…
"Our anxiety does not empty tomorrow of its sorrow, but only empties today of its strength"
Lord, help me today…
Where All Journeys Begin
4:47 PM
What a great weekend. We kicked our Sunday school off to a great start with “In A Pit With A Lion On A Snowy Day”, by Mark Batterson. I was great! Lot’s of great feedback so far.
So…
I did my morning routine this morning. However, it wasn’t so routine this time. I tried to just keep my mouth shut and let God speak this morning. You know what? That’s really hard! I wonder if it’s because it feels like uncomfortable silence? Is it because I am still not completely secure in my relationship with Christ? I think it’s multiple things…most if which has me falling short and working hard to establish a closer and more intimate relationship with Jesus.
As I prayed, I couldn’t help but think of an opportunity that was thrown into my ear over the weekend about a certain job opportunity that was a complete long shot, but would be a complete answer to prayer. Nevertheless it’s a long shot…as much as I want to visualize my answer and grab onto faith like a child clinging to it’s mothers arms, it’s hard for me to imagine that kind of favor. One side of me holds firmly to terra firma, while the other side reaches for the celestial. I am also reminded that this job might not be the one God had in mind. Yes…it might meet my financial needs, but it might be the worse thing possible for my spiritual needs.
In the words of John (Gospel Of John)…
John 1 Vs 42
“And he brought him to Jesus…”
So you know…I know this isn’t the whole scripture, but it’s the words I want to key in on here. Why? Because it’s the most important! This sentence is located in the first chapter. For Peter, this is where he meets Jesus. This is where his journey begins.
Isn’t this where all journeys begin?
As I think on a job, my life, my kids, and my church…I can’t help but think that everyone’s first chapter of their life truly starts when they are brought to Jesus. As I think of this long shot job situation, I think…”I just need to bring it to Jesus, He’ll know what to do.” All great beginnings are birthed in Him.
The answers we receive from him…well, that’s another journal…
Updates & Influence
6:11 PM
Spent some time with my oldest daughter last night at Firewheel…in
On another note, I have been thinking about next months content…and I have decided that I will be posting a series on “I Am Ninja, Ministry In The Shadows”. I have some pre-written material on it, but I am looking to disassemble all of it to narrow its focus on a few key individuals and outcomes. I guess this is my shout-out to be looking for it next month.
Last but not least…can I open up to you a bit more on my passion?
About 2 years ago now, I had a “Ramah” moment with the Holy Scripture. I was in the middle of devotions in the 2nd Book of Samuel…
2nd Samuel 9 Vs 1
“David asked, “Is there anyone still left of the house of Saul to whom I can show kindness for Jonathon’s sake?”
Most of us know the rest of this story of how David rescues one of Jonathon’s children and takes him in as his own to sit at the Kings table forever. You know what I see?
I just see Jonathon’s legacy….
Jonathon was entitled to be king. It was his birthright. However, in the first book of Samuel (Chapter 23) we read that Jonathon was in tune to the will of God by his personal declaration that David will be king and he will sit next to David in submission. Is this real? Who has that kind of integrity? There aren’t too many men today that would give up their seat on anything…much less a throne. (On a side note, don’t you think that maybe the reason David had such a tender walk with God, is because he held godly company?)
Let me cut to the chase…
Have you ever impacted someone’s life so great as to make them want to take care of your generations to come? David had his own family problems and by the looks of it, he didn’t need anymore luggage. However, the impact that Jonathon made upon David’s life would forever impact Jonathon’s children, grandchildren, etc…if that isn’t a challenge to the modern day Christian, I don’t know what is.
My passion is to make such an impact on today’s generation that they will devote their life to making an impact on my children’s generation. Make no mistake, the teenagers that I pour into today, will be the youth pastors of tomorrow. These same teenagers will eventually be a senior pastor to my children’s children. I hope that I can influence them the same way Jonathon influence David.
Who are you influencing?
